S.Korean wins 160km race as 5,300 take on Vietnam’s toughest trail event

Held from September 17 to 20 in Sa Pa, Lao Cai Province, VMM 2026 featured six distances: 10km, 21km, 50km, 70km, 100km and 100 miles (160km).

VMM is Vietnam’s first ultra-distance trail race, having been held since 2013. The race was initiated by the Danish Embassy in Vietnam and operated by Topas Travel.

The inaugural edition in 2013 attracted around 200 runners, with only one Vietnamese runner completing the longest 65km race.

After 13 editions, VMM has become one of Vietnam’s largest trail races, known for its scenic yet demanding routes.

It has also become a major annual gathering for long-distance and trail-running enthusiasts seeking to challenge themselves on its mountain routes.

The VMM 2026 courses run through the high mountains of the Hoang Lien Son Range, crossing mountains and streams and passing through villages inhabited by ethnic minority communities.

Runners have to run through the night, while the routes also offer opportunities to see sunrises and sunsets and experience spectacular natural scenery.

In 2025, VMM officially joined the World Trail Majors, a nonprofit organization comprising 10 independent leading trail races around the world.

As of 3:00 pm Saturday, Junghyun Lim had won the men’s 160km race, finishing first in 24 hours, 53 minutes and 27 seconds.

The 160km race started at 8:00 am Friday, while runners in the 100km and 70km categories were still on the course heading toward the finish line.

A number of runners were forced to withdraw because of injuries and exhaustion after tackling long distances, high mountains, streams and muddy trails after a week of rain in Sa Pa.